Itanagar: Concerned over large scale encroachment of forest land and destruction of plantations by people in connivance with forest officials throughout Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki today cracked the whip on erring officials.
“The state government is serious on protection of forest land and produces and suitable action will be taken on the officials’ for dereliction of duties,” Tuki informed the assembly in response to a question raised by Trinamool Congress member Laeta Umbrey during question hour.
The chief minister disclosed that altogether 3,056 people encroached on forest lands in various districts with the maximum number of 1,417 people under Namsai Forest Division followed by Nampong forest division (519), Lohit (412) and Banderdewa (375).
“Our forest is the highest property of the country and we must protect it at any cost,” Tuki said with conviction.
Citing lack of manpower as the major reason for the problem, the chief minister informed the house that the state government recently created the Forest Protection Force and had already sanctioned 288 posts.
“Due to limited forest check gates in comparison to the vast stretch of state’s forest area, we cannot protect the entire area. Lots of forest produces are going outside the state illegally. However, with efforts being put by the government, the problem will be solved soon,” he said.
Tuki, who is also in-charge of Forest Department, while responding to a question during question hour on the penultimate day of the six-day Budget session, raised by Laeta Umbrey of AITC, further informed that all the cases were pending in various courts in different parts of the state.
Altogether 543,48,668 hectares of forest land has been encroached in 16 numbers of forest divisions have been affected all over the state due to encroachment, he said.
While, acknowledging the massive destruction of plantations and illegal encroachment of forest land mainly in foothill areas, he informed, adding, it did not do in last two-three years, but the process is continuing in the state from the very beginning.
Responding to another supplementary, Tuki said that during the past five years, encroachment to the extent of 55.249 hectares in Banderdewa forest division and 35 hectares in Dibang forest division were being reported.
Offence reports have been drawn against the encroachers and cases booked in the local courts, he informed adding, 35 such cases under Banderdewa division and seven in Dibang division were under trial.
The chief minister told the House that it’s the collective responsibility of all to protect and preserve the unique forest and its resources by putting a check on wanton destruction of forests for our next generation. (Agencies)